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.e Improvement in Excavating and Ditching Machines.-

NG. 123,303, Patented1an.30,1872.

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M. M. STEWART a 10H M D. M. RUSSELL.

Improvement in Excavating and Dtching Machines.

Patened Jan. 30.., 1872.

MORDICA M. STEWART AND J OHN D. M. RUSSELL, OF MAYFIELD, KY.

IIVIPROVENIENT IN EXCAVATING AND DITCI-IING MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 123,303, dated January 30, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, MORDICA M. STEW- ART and J. D. M. RUSSE LL, ot' Mayiield, in the county of Graves and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in Ditchers; and we do hereby declare that the following' is a full, clear, and exact description ofthe construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawing making .a part of this speciiication and to the letters and iigures otl reference marked thereon.

Figure l ot' the drawing is a representation of a vertical longitudinal section ot' our invention. Fig. 2 is a top-plan view ot' the same.

This invention has relation to ditching-machines or excavators; and the novelty consists in the construction and adjustable arrangement ot) the cutters and scraper, as hereinatter described.

tei'errin g to the drawing, A represents the main frame ot' my improved ditching-machine mounted at its forward end on the wheels B B' supported by the axle G. Secured to the inner tace ot' the wheel B' is a spur-wheel, D, which engages with a similar' wheel, D1, on the end ot' a transverse shaft, D2, which holds a grooved pulley-wheel, D. E indicates a transverse bar, which is supported upon brackets c projecting from the axle G,andis armed with a number of depending cutters or plows, F F', which are designed to dig into the earth in order to form the ditch. The brackets c have loops or collars on their outer ends which encircle the bar E and allow it freedom to turn.

The cutters F', it will be noticed, project toward the sidesot' the machine obliquely, their points falling behind the edges or peripheries of the wheels B I3'. The cutters may be adjusted to sink different depths by means of the levers G, which are attached to the bar E and pivoied to the rods H. I designates the scraper, concave or shovellshaped, as shown, its lower part being inclined toward the points of the plows. The scraper has oblique beveled sides 1T, which are hinged to the rods H, thus rendering the scraper adjustable simultaneously with the plows. The back part ot' the scraper is hinged to the frame A. O designa-tes aI casterwheel attached to the rear end of the ditcher.

The number ot' plows to be used with this ditc-her should be about nine.

By removing the middle plow and separat ing the scraper from the frame the machine may used as a corn or cotton cultivator.

\Ve claim as oui-inventionl. In a ditching-machine orjexcavator, we claim the combinatiouot' the adjustable plows F F', levers Gr, rod H, and hinged scraper I as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a ditching-machine, the arrangement of the plows or cutters F', as described.

In testimony that we claim the above we have hereunto subscribed our names in the presence of two witnesses.

MORDIUA M. STEWART. JOL-IN DAVID, M. RUSSELL. .Vitnesses:

B. A. HOWARD, Z. B. THOMAS. 

